In a renovation on the other hand we have to consider what effect a new skylight will have on the efficiency of the existing building. In some cases the additional sunlight (and therefore heat) can help reduce the amount of energy needed to heat the house. It depends greatly on the local climate but also on the design of the building envelope of the house.

Ambient light. This acts as fill light. “In bathrooms with taller ceilings a cove or cantilever details ambient lighting fixtures can be installed along the perimeter of the space” Whitehead says. “Architectural details such as these can hide the fixture and create indirect lighting”.

The most common use of up lighting is in a recessed cove around the top perimeter of a room. To maximize light output use a T5 fluorescent or LED light source that will wash the ceiling with light. This helps to create a brighter ceiling that bounces and reflects light throughout the space without glare. Combine this with lots of natural daylight to increase the overall light levels in a room.